Student leader lives by the Golden Rule

If you know Rocio Martinez, you understand how the Golden Rule fits Martinez’s personality seamlessly. Martinez, a senior at Battle Mountain High School, shines as a helper and a doer who serves this community, her community, by way of treating others well and through volunteerism.

Recently, the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey was administered to over 2,300 local seventh- through 12th-grade students, and reported that over 70 percent of the local youth are involved in extracurricular activities. Martinez is one of them. Martinez has participated in The Youth Foundation’s programs for over six years. Not only has she experienced almost all of their programs, she has begun to return the favor to others as she is currently involved as a Community Coach mentor for younger children.

In addition to her dedication to participating in various youth programs, Martinez participated in the Youth Leaders Council for three years, where she engaged in service learning programs and leadership development. A highlight volunteer event during Martinez’s participation in the council was helping out at the Salvation Army’s Santa Store. Through this role, Martinez worked with her peers to ensure that hundreds of local families in need received gifts for their children over the holiday season.

When she is not deeply engaged in one of these roles, Martinez is likely working with young children in the community through another avenue.

“Rocio leads by example and gives her all while working with children,” Mike Santambrogio of The Youth Foundation said. “She goes above and beyond and is one of the most kind, caring and dedicated young women.”

It’s truly an honor to have such an exemplary young woman in the local community. Martinez’s healthy lifestyle and choices were highlighted at the 2012 Valley Tastings: Food for Youth, recognizing her service to the community, as well as for being a sounding voice and supporter for her peers and local children. She was acknowledged for her diligence and charitable attitude towards a bright future for her generation while promoting others to stand-up and become leaders, volunteers, program developers and grass-root planners.

Candace Eves is the resource development coordinator at the Eagle River Youth Coalition, a local nonprofit organization that offers and supports collaborative prevention programs and services. The Youth Leaders Council is a program of the Eagle River Youth Coalition, a local nonprofit organization that offers collaborative prevention programs and services to tackle three main areas that affect the development of teens and adolescent youth including: substance abuse prevention, emotional wellness and mental health promotion and academic achievement. In addition to Youth Leaders Council, Eagle River Youth Coalition offers various levels of parenting education and trainings for community members. For more information, call 970-949-9250 or visit http://www.eagleyouth.org.